2012 Master's ADDRESS

First and foremost, I want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for his grace and mercy.  Without Him, nothing is possible.  To my fellow lodge members, I want to say again thank you for your confidence by electing me Worshipful Master for the year 2012.  It is indeed an honor and a privilege.  To my immediate predecessor, Past Master Vincent Bozeman, I say thank you for the knowledge and the opportunity having served as your Senior Warden and the eventful ride we took together in 2011.

 With that said, the foundation is set, the path is clear, the course has been charted.  Now we must burst from the gate with the vigor and dominance of a warrior championing his land.  Our dominion is what we make it to be.  Our purpose, our goal, our direction, our finances, our charity; that is what we must conquer in order for Mount Olive to return to its pristine glory. 

  I believe when Frank Anderson took the reins and help create Mount Olive Lodge #21 126 years ago, he understood that he was creating an unquestionably unique, relentless, sophisticated, and charismatic lodge.  We have been blessed to initiated pass and raise a Deputy Grand Master, a District Deputy, numerous Grand Lodge officers, a University President, Religious leaders, Fraternity Presidents, Sports icons, Bank owners, Educators, Musicians, and Entrepreneurs.  You name it, we have it.  All of that knowledge and business acumen and social influence we must now channel into these trying times.

 The world, the nation, the state and the city are in a recession state of mind.  And with it, District One suffers no different fate if we don’t do something different.  We must take our ideas, our resources and help turn this District back on track.  The condition we are in is no one man’s fault.  And if it was, it does nothing to point a finger or linger on the question of why.  Instead we must, as a lodge, do what we can to sustain our temple for eternity.  We must stand behind our Deputies, we must be in the “know” with our temple business.  We must stand forth and commit.  To do this we must all be involved.  Not with just our speech, but with our actions and with our money.  We must bring a different attitude to the table and figure out a way for our sons and daughters to continue to enjoy this Order we call Prince Hall Masonry and equally enjoy it in the city we call home.

 Mount Olive, we will start now.  To perpetuate our lodge, our District, our Grand Lodge, our elected and appointed officers have committed to bringing their best forward for you. We will take care of home and then venture outside to take care of our community.  We will show that there are still “real” black men in this world who function properly.  I must say again, that can only be achieved by confidence, forward thinking, action and execution.  We must always remember our tenets of Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth.  We must remember what it is to be a Master Mason.  We are captains of our homes, leaders to our wives and children.  Mount Olive, we have a glorious past, an outstanding present, and the means to create a dynamic future.  Stewards and protectors of the Square and Compass, Mount Olive Lodge #21 Let’s Go!!!

Rory C. Askin

"Your manhood does not depend upon your position, but upon your character.  The establishment as well as the acknowledgement of true manhood is in your own hands."

Author Unknown

The 77th Worshipful Master

of Mount Olive #21

Rory C. Askin Sr.